Permanent residence in Poland: Long-Term EU and Permanent Residence

Poland provides for two forms of indefinite duration residence permits for foreigners:
• Permanent residence permit (pobyt stały)
• Long-term EU residence (długoterminego UE)

The knowledge of the Polish language at the intermediate level (B1), confirmed by a state certificate, is a requirement for obtaining a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU residence permit

Permanent residence permit

You can submit the application if:

• You have Polish origins and you want to live on the Polish territory permanently or you have been married to a Polish citizen for more than 3 years before the day of submission of the application to obtain permission for permanent residence and directly before submitting this application you stayed on the Polish territory for at least 2 years with no break, based on the permission for stay issued connected to being married to a Polish citizen or connected to getting refugee status, supplementary protection, or permission for stay due to humanitarian reasons, or
• You are a victim of human trafficking and you meet the conditions of the Act on foreigners, or
• Directly before submitting the application for permanent residence you stayed with no breaks on Polish territory for no less than 5 years on the basis of refugee status, supplementary protection or permission for stay due to humanitarian reasons, or
• Directly before submitting the application for permanent residence you stayed with no breaks on the Polish territory for no less than 10 years on the basis of the permission for tolerated state or you were granted an asylum on the territory of Poland.

The application may also be submitted by parents established by the court or one of the parents established by the court on behalf of the juvenile child if:

• the child is a child of a foreigner who was granted a permission for permanent residence or permission for a long-term EU resident stay under his parental supervision;
• the child is born after this foreigner is granted permission for permanent residence or permission for long-term EU stay, or
• the child born in the period of validity of permission for temporary residence granted to this foreigner, or in the period of this foreigner’s stay on Polish territory based on the permission for the stay due to humanitarian reasons, permission for the tolerated stay, refugee status, supplementary protection, or
• the child is a child of Polish citizen staying under his parental supervision.

Long-term EU residence permit

To obtain this form of residence, it is necessary to fulfil four conditions simultaneously:

• at least five years of uninterrupted stay in Poland, immediately prior to filing the application,
• a stable and regular income source that can cover the cost of the maintenance of dependents,
• health insurance within the meaning of the provisions on universal health insurance or a confirmation of coverage by the insurer for medical expenses in the territory of Poland.
• right to housing.

Long-term EU residence is therefore a possibility of legalizing the stay in Poland for people with a stable professional and financial situation.

Residence card (Karta Pobytu)

After obtaining a permanent residence permit or EU residence, a foreign national receives a residence card. This card entitles to multiple Polish border crossing. The residence card, issued as a part of a permanent residence permit or long-term EU resident permit, also guarantees the ability to travel in the European countries belonging to the Schengen area. It only gives the right to travel as a tourist, for a period of up to 90 days within each 180 day period. It does not give the right to work in other countries.

The permanent residence permit or long-term resident permit gives the holder the right to stay for an indefinite period in Poland, the right to work in Poland, without the need to request additional authorization (such as work permit), as well as the possibility of starting a company, completing education and seeking social assistance.

Replacement or Renewal of Card

• A permanent residence card remains valid for 10 years, which means that it should be replaced every 10 years.
• Long-term EU residence card remains valid for 5 years, which means that it should be replaced every 5 years.

Requirements

To renew your card you need to show in the Immigration Office the original of:

• your actual card;
• your decision;
• your passport;
• zameldowanie ( local registration - document with address);
• 2 photos - actual not, older than 3 month, like for Polish passport - front face.
• application.

Source:
https://www.msz.gov.pl/en/

Related Link:
Working and living in Poland